The gasifiers feed three Waukesha L 7042 G engine alternator sets, with following technical data: 12 cylinder V-formed engines, with a cylinder volume of 115.4 dm³, bore/stroke diameter of 238/216 mm and compression ratio of 10:1. The nominal power output of the engines running on diesel oil is 859 kW each at 1200 rpm.

The engines have been converted to producer gas operation in the normal way by installation of special spark plugs, gas/air mixers, control devices, etc. Running on wood-gas the nominal power output is 525 kW at 1000 rpm. With cos (fii) = 0,8 for the 50 Hz, 400/230 V alternator, each set can generate 420 kVA electricity.

During the first one and a half years of operation, in 1983-84, the power-plant produced 4703 MWh electricity, with a total wood-fuel consumption of 8890 tons. This means that the average fuel consumption per produced kWh was 1.89 kg of woodchips, with a moisture content of 20-25%. During the same period the engines in operation consumed 9640 litres of lubricating oil.

Calculating with an average load factor of 68%, during 24 hours per day and 300 days per year, each gasifier engine unit generates roughly 2060 MWh electricity annually. The estimated electricity demand of the Loma Plata community is given in Table 6.3.